Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle announced July 3 that northern Ontario's Ring of Fire project would be assisted by a newly created development corporation. (Jeff Walters/CBC)


UPDATED | Ring of Fire Development Corporation created in Thunder Bay

CBC News Posted: Aug 28, 2014

The Ontario government announced today that it has established the Ring of Fire Infrastructure Development Corporation, with headquarters to be located in Thunder Bay.

The government had pledged July 3rd to create the corporation within 60 days.

For now, the not-for-profit body has an interim board made up of four senior Ontario civil servants. The board will create what the province calls "necessary structures" to determine how partners will participate in the corporation. Those potential partners include First Nations, industry, communities and the federal government.

The corporation will be based in Thunder Bay, but staffing levels have yet to be determined. Its ultimate goal is to bring First Nations, the public and private sectors together to create partnerships and facilitate investment for transportation options to the Ring of Fire.

Opposition not impressed

The NDP critic for Northern Development and Mines, Michael Mantha said the province is moving too slow.

"I am disappointed to see that this announcement has no details on the progress of the Ring of Fire Development Corporation or how it will function.", Mantha said in a statement. "This government has had years to come up with a framework for the Ring of Fire and what we see today is all they were able to come up with is four civil servants sitting on a board and more empty promises."

Ring of Fire Infrastructure Development Corporation members

• Ehrn Cory
• Executive Director for Infrastructure Ontario Transaction Structuring Risk and Commercial Projects division
• Former Partner of McKinsey & Co, a global management consulting firm

• Rob Dowler
• Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Environment Justice
• Awarded CIP National Planning Award for excellence in regional and urban planning

• Linda McAusland
• Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Administrative officer for the Ministry of Transportation
• Previously worked at Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

• Bill Thornton
• Assistant Deputy Minister for Northern Development Division for Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
• Member of the Canadian Institute of Forestry, an Ontario Registered Professional Forester

UPDATED | Ring of Fire Development Corporation created in Thunder Bay

CBC News Posted: Aug 28, 2014